Folding table.



No. 706,868. Patented Aug. I2, I902.

E. P. VAN ALSTYNE, IR.

FOLDING TABLE.

(Application filed Mar. 4, 1902.

(No Model.)

IN VENTOI? A TTOHNEYS NITED FOLDING TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 706,868, dated August 12, 1902. Application filed March 4, 1902. Serial No. 96,597. (No model.)

To all 1071,0121 it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD P. VAN AL- STYNE, Jr., a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Kinderhook, in the county of Columbia and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Folding Tables, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a folding table especiallyadapted to rest upon trunks, chairs, and like supports for convenience in writing, reading, studying, displaying samples, &c., and to so construct the device that it will be light, simple, effective, and durable and capable of being expeditiously and conveniently set up and adjusted to various sizes of supports and as readily and conveniently folded in a small compass, so that it maybe carried in a trunk.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the im-' proved table setup 'upon a trunk. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the table as extended; and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the leg-supporting battens and an edge view of one of the legs, illustrating the adjustable connection between the leg and support.

The top of the table may be made in any desired number of sect-ions; but ordinarily it consists of the two sections A and B illustrated. Each of the sections A and B of the table-top is strengthened by battens 10, secured to the under faces of the sections at the edges of the sections which are to be brought together, as is illustrated in Fig. 2, and hinges 11 are secured to the said battens 10 in such manner that one section of the top may be folded over the other section, with their inner faces opposite, or whereby the two sections may be unfolded in a manner to bring their upper or outer faces in the same horizontal plane, as is shown in Fig. 1. Two other battens 13 and 14 are secured to the under face of each section A and B, adjacent to their outer or free ends, and these battens 13 and tions of the said legs.

14 are adapted to support legs 0, the battens having suitable spaces between them to receive sections of the legs. The leg-supporting battens 13 and 14: are provided with series of a ertures 14E extendin transversel through them, and the apertures in the battens 13 are in transverse alinement with the apertures in the battens 14, as is shown in Fig. 2. When the sections of the table are unfolded, they are held in such position by passing a pin 12 through the hinge-battens 10, preferably at their central portions, as shown "in Fig. 2, suitable apertures being provided in said battens 10 for such purpose.

The legs C consist, preferably, of a bodysection 15, a top or head section 16, and a footseetion 17. The head-section 16 is horizontal and is at right angles to the upper portion of the body-section of the leg, and the said bodysection of the leg, as is shown in Figs. 1 and 3, curves inward for a distance in its length and then is reversely curved in an outward direction until the body meets the foot-section 1'7, which is straight and preferably in the same vertical plane with the upper end portion of the body. Thus it will be observed that the body of the leg 0 is practically shaped on the lines of a compound curve; but at the bottom portion of the body of a leg the inner face is convexed and the outer face concaved, so that where the foot-section 17 connects with the body-section 15 of a leg an inner shoulder c is formed, adapted to rest upon the top of a trunk at the side edge thereof, as is shown in Fig. 1, while the foot-section extends down-the side of the trunk and is prevented from marring the face of the trunk by attaching pads 18 to the inner faces of the foot-sec- The head portions 16 of the legs slide freely in the spaces between the battens 13 and 14, and at the inner end of each head-section of a leg an eye 19 is; formed; and the legs are held in adjusted position relative to the top of the table by passing pins 19 through corresponding apertures 14 in tho battens l3 and 1 1 and through the eyes 19 at the head portions of the legs. Thus it will be observed that the legs of the table maybe adjusted to adapt themselves to the tops of trunks of different sizes and that the legs may be readily disconnected from the top of the table and the sections of the top folded.

- in hinged sections adapted to fold one upon the other,means for locking the sections in the same horizontal plane, legs for the sections, guideways on the sections in which the heads of the legs are adapted to slide and means substantially as described,for detachably and adjustably securing the said legs in said guideways, as set forth.

2. In tables, a top constructed in hinged sections adapted to fold one upon the other or outward so that their outer faces will be in the same horizontal plane, a locking device for holding the sections in their outer unfolded position, battens secured to the under faces of the said sections, provided with transverse apertures, the apertures in one batten corresponding in position to the position of those in the opposing batten, a space intervening between each pair of battens, and legs for the table provided with head-sections adapted to slide in the spaces between the battens, which head-sections have eyes adapted to be brought in alinement with opposing apertures in the battens, the lower ends of the legs terminating in vertical foot-sections, the foot-sections being at angles to the lower portion of the body-section of the legs, whereby inner lower shoulders are formed on the legs, and pins adapted to be passed through the apertures in the battens and through the eyes in the heads of the legs, for the purpose set forth.

3. In a table, the combination, with a top constructed in hinged connected sections,battens secured to the under faces of the secfroaes tions at their hinged ends,a locking-pin adapt ed to be passed through said battens, and legsupporting battens arranged in pairs upon the under faces of the sections near their outer ends, the battens of the said pairs having spaces intervening between them and being provided with transverse alining apertures, of legs comprising body-sections formed on the lines of a compound curve, head-sections at right angles to the body-section, the headsections being provided with eyes and adapted to slide in the spaces between the end battens of the top sectious,each leg being provided also with a perpendicular foot-section, and pins adapted to be passed through the apertures in the end battens and through the eyes at the head-sections of the legs,whereby the said legs are adj ustabl y and removably attached to the top of the table, as described.

4. A table, comprising a top constructed in hinged sections adapted to fold one upon the other, legs for the sections terminating at their lower ends in vertical foot-sections, the foot-sections being at angles to the lower portion of the body-section of the legs, whereby inner lower shoulders are formed on the legs, guideways on the sections in which the heads of the legs are adjustable, and means for holding said legs in adjusted position, as set forth.

5. A table, comprising a top, legs each com-v EDWARD I. VAN ALS'IYNE, Jlt.

Witnesses:

J. FRED. ACKER, JNo. M. RITTER. 

